England Women Elite Player Squad convened yesterday for a four-day training camp at Loughborough University.
The camp will enable England to begin preparations for the upcoming Six Nations campaign and the Red Roses’ opening match against Italy on 4th February in the Stadio Mirabello (KO 17:30 GMT, Live Sky Sports).
Simon Middleton, England head coach said: “We want to continue to build on what was put in place for the Old Mutual Wealth Series, while at the same time get winning results. The Six Nations is a highly competitive tournament and the level of competition is tough.
We will have two camps between now and the first game on the 4th February to pick our strongest squad. In this training camp we will be looking to really test the players and for them to perform.”
England Women U20’s players Helena Rowland (Saracens Women) and Hannah Botterman (Saracens Women), who made her international debut against Canada last year both join the training squad. Charlotte Pearce (Loughborough Lightning), who took part in England’s extended training camp in October and also featured in the training games against South Africa, is included.
Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins Ladies), who earned her first international cap in the opening Old Mutual Wealth Series Test which saw England beat Canada 79-5, joins the squad as a newly appointed EPS player.
Middleton added: “Shaunagh has earned her place in the squad through delivering consistently outstanding performances in the Tyrrells Premier 15s and also on her international debut against Canada last year. We are delighted to have Shaunagh fully integrated into the squad as a named EPS player.”
Katy Daley-Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) will miss the camp for personal reasons.
England Women squad will convene again on 22nd January for a final week-long training camp before a playing squad is selected ahead of the opening Test against Italy. England won the Six Nations in 2017 with their first Grand Slam since 2012.
England training squad for Loughborough Camp:
Backs
Bianca Blackburn (Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC)
Rachael Burford (Harlequins Ladies)
Lauren Cattell (Saracens Women)
Charlotte Clapp (Saracens Women)
Abigail Dow (Wasps FC Ladies)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens Women)
Ellie Kildunne (Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC)
Caity Mattinson (Bristol Ladies)
Charlotte Pearce (Loughborough Lightning)
Amber Reed (Bristol Ladies)
Leanne Riley (Harlequins Ladies)
Helena Rowland (Saracens Women)
Kelly Smith (Gloucester- Hartpury Women’s RFC)
Lagi Tuima (Bristol Ladies)
Danielle Waterman (Wasps FC Ladies)
Rachael Woosey (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Forwards
Sarah Bern (Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC)
Hannah Botterman (Saracens Women)
Jo Brown (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins Ladies)
Rowena Burnfield (Richmond FC)
Amy Cokayne (Wasps FC Ladies)
Rochelle Clark (Wasps FC Ladies)
Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women)
Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Ladies)
Lark Davies (Worcester Valkyries)
Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning)
Olivia Jones (Loughborough Lightning)
Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Poppy Leitch (Bristol Ladies)
Justine Lucas (Wasps FC Ladies)
Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol Ladies)
Catherine O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning)
Marlie Packer (Saracens Women)
Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Abbie Scott (Harlequins Ladies)
England Women Six Nations 2018 fixtures:
Italy v England
Sunday 4 February, KO 17:30 GMT, Live Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Mix
Stadio Mirabello, Reggio Emilia
England v Wales
Saturday 10 February, KO 12:15pm, Live Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Mix
Twickenham Stoop
Scotland v England
Friday 23 February, KO 19:30, Live Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Arena via red button
Scotstoun, Glasgow
France v England
Saturday 10 March, KO 20:00 GMT, Live Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Mix
Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
England v Ireland
Friday 16 March, KO 17:30, Live Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Mix
Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Report courtesy of the RFU
